As SKUAST Kashmir develops India’s first gene-edited, experts caution about regulatory​, oversight mechanisms

Ziraat Times Team Report

Srinagar: In a major scientific leap, the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) has ​reportedly succe​eded in produc​i​ng India’s first gene-edited sheep using CRISPR-Cas9 technology.

SKUAST-K officials say that the edited lamb was born through precise gene editing targeting the myostatin gene – a natural regulator of muscle growth. By silencing this gene, SKUAST  scientists says they enhanced muscle mass in the lamb by nearly 30%, a trait common in high-performance European breeds. If successful in commercial dissemination to Kashmir’s rural farms, this trait could increase meat yield and potentially improve livelihoods of livestock farmers in the state.

“This is not just the birth of a lamb, but of a new era in livestock genetics in India,” said Dr Nazir Ahmad Ganai, Vice Chancellor of SKUAST-Kashmir. “With gene editing, we can bring precise changes without introducing foreign DNA, making the process efficient, safe and acceptable to consumers and regulators alike.”

Dr Riyaz A Shah, who led the research team, said that the gene editing was done without integrating any foreign genetic material, making it a case of precise genome modification rather than traditional genetic modification (GMO), which often faces greater regulatory resistance.

Experts’ questions about regulatory system and oversight 

Experts believe that the development also highlights the need for better regulatory clarity in Jammu & Kashmir’s biotechnology landscape – particularly in the domain of gene-edited animals.

India’s Department of Biotechnology (DBT) issued guidelines in 2022 allowing conditional exemption of certain gene-edited crops from the rigorous approval processes applicable to GMOs. However, no such clear framework exists for gene-edited animals. Unlike the United States, Australia or Japan – where detailed, multi-agency regulations govern gene-edited livestock, including ethical, environmental and food safety assessments – experts argue that India, as of now, lacks a coherent policy roadmap for commercialising such scientific breakthroughs.

In the US, for example, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) treats gene-edited animals under veterinary drug laws and requires extensive pre-market safety evaluations. Australia similarly assesses gene-edited livestock through its Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR), focusing on the nature of genetic changes and their outcomes. These countries also have clear mechanisms for public engagement and ethical scrutiny, ensuring consumer trust.

Experts highlight that for SKUAST-K’s gene-edited lamb, there is no approved pathway for farm-level trials, commercial release or inclusion in breeding programmes.

“This raises important questions: How will the animal be used? Can it be bred? Will farmers eventually benefit from this trait? As of now, the answers remain uncertain”, said a senior scientist at the Sheep Husbandry Department.

Ethical and public trust considerations

The use of gene editing in animals also invokes ethical considerations, especially around animal welfare, long-term ecological impacts and food safety. While SKUAST officials maintain that CRISPR-Cas9 is a precise and safe technology, global experiences suggest that ethical clearance, transparency and public education must accompany such innovations.

“Such a development is not supposed to be a one-off event. It has to be accompanied with a detailed scientific and administrative action plans for risk assessment, risk management in the entire commercial supply chain”, said an retired veterinarian, who has been involved in several research initiatives at J&K’s Animal Husbandry Department.

Notably, the gene editing process in SKUAST-Kashmir’s case does not involve transgenic modification (inserting genes from another species), which typically attracts greater ethical resistance. However, the fact that J&K does not yet have an institutional mechanism like an independent bioethics panel to review gene-edited livestock projects, a norm in many developed nations, does remain.

Potential implications for Kashmir’s livestock economy

Kashmir’s livestock sector, particularly its sheep industry, could benefit enormously from such advancements, given its dependence on costly imports – if they are allowed and managed appropriately. With over 3 million sheep in Jammu & Kashmir and a high dependence on meat and wool for rural livelihoods, improved breeds with higher muscle mass, better disease resistance or faster growth rates could transform the sector.

In J&K’s case, gene editing could offer enhanced productivity per animal, reducing land and resource pressure. It could also result in better returns for marginal farmers, especially in hilly zones. It could also reduce import dependence on high-performance foreign breeds.

However, for this promise to materialise, experts emphasise, SKUAST-K’s work must move from the lab to the field – a transition currently blocked by the absence of regulatory protocols and field-level risk assessment mechanisms.

Why a regulatory roadmap would be essential

The SKUAST-K experiment is an important proof of concept for India. But without enabling regulation, such breakthroughs risk being confined to academic journals.

Experts and stakeholders in J&K are now calling for a dedicated regulatory framework for gene-edited animals in India, involving clear classification of non-transgenic edits for exemption, robust animal welfare and biosafety oversight, ethical review boards at state and national levels and pathways for farm trials and controlled dissemination to farmers.

For Kashmir’s pastoral communities and the country’s broader food and agriculture future, the need of the hour is to ensure that such science is backed by a robust risk assessment, mitigation, regulation and ethics.